To Buy or Not To Buy

Spudm

Member
If you were buying a new farm utility tractor, which makes, models would you be thinking about? Just so many to choose from.....I don't know.
 
First, I prefer the antique tractors over the new ones. Second, there isn't just one tractor that fits all. It's like the shopsmith, there isn't one tool that does everything in woodworking well.

When I think of a utility tractor, I think of a tractor with loader/hoe. Third, your needs may be different from mine, need more info on what you are trying to do with loader. I would never have an add-on loader/hoe. I want only backhoes built from the factory. So there are subcompact hoes all the way up to the very big boys. What are your needs?

I also want to KISS, keep it simple, gas tractors so I can work on them. If you can't turn wrenches you may consider who is the best dealer to buy from.
 
As George says, everybody's needs are different and it depends on dealer network.
I'm not a great mechanic so I'm looking at who has a good service department. With a mechanics that has been their a while and knows their product. Also parts availability is important.
I'm am considering a new 40-50 hp. utility tractor before the end of the year.
I have owned four Kubota's and currently have two that I'm using. I have two dealer's within 20 miles with good service and parts departments. I probably have another 4-5 dealers within 50 miles. So my decision has been made as to which brand I will buy new.
 
Just a 40-60 hp tractor to be used as a utility tractor around a small farm. No bucket, no 4 wheel drive, no cab, I don't need that....
 
Just curious, what would the reason be to skip the bucket?

I know of many who have done without it but had every need for one, from small farms like you mention, going back many years, to even my neighbor/dairy farmer, whom I recall, only had a 620 JD with a manure bucket for the longest time, yet he had much larger later model JD tractors. Subsequently, he did replace a 3020 with a 3150 with a loader, he would have never gone back to living without one that is for sure. I could not live without one here, did for years, just a necessity and a very handy one at that.

In regards to a tractor, I'd consider several utility size models, prefer an industrial ford, but if doing ag, 40-50 HP general purpose type would be fine, with a loader, 4 wheel drive would be nice, really nice and there is a need given the hills here for example, but if the budget could not allow it, I could live without that.
 
Several factors to determine.One,a good local dealer. You dont want a tractor with the closest dealer 100 miles away.my nearest IH dealer is 300 miles away.New,barly used,or older machine.Do you have other tractors? Try to get the same brand as the others in your 'herd'.Can you turn some wrenches,or are you 'clueless'?Personally,I would prefer a tractor from the late 60s/70s..Couple examples: JD 3010/3020,2x30/40 series;IH 656/666/686,Hydro 70;MF 165/175,2x5 serire;White/Oliver American series 60;Ford 5000....As was said,Kubota has a pretty good reputation and dealers seem to be plentyful.but I would have a hard time ownig something 'foreign'.There are many tractors tro choose from.Find something you like,drive some.Ask locally about reputation.Does it fit the budget?Just remember the cheapest initial price is not always the cheapest down the road
 
I agree with the Massey. Had one that was a dandy work horse, plain, 2 wheel drive but is had a perkins bulletproof diesel, and I would never buy a working tractor without a loader. Most handy item ever designed for a tractor... You can do more things with a loader that you can think of.
 
I'd probebly buy a kubota because they are a pretty good little tractor and will be cheaper than your name brands.
 
2 Wd with no cab your choices are limited. I'm getting a New Holland 65 Workmaster. (It's at Westendorf now getting a loader put on) Many others I looked at in that HP range had 3 cyl engines. The 65 has 4. (the Farmall A65 is the same tractor in red but my local Case dealer did not find me one) I also looked at tire size. Most tractors in that class have 28 in. The Workmaster has 16.9 X 30. I'll know more after I use it a year but it seemed like a good value to me. I lucked out and found a dealer in IA that had this tractor ordered in since Feb. It just arrived last week. New orders will have more stringent emissions.
 
Brand new, or new to you? As much as I appreciate my antiques, I was looking for just such a tractor a year ago- something with remote outlets, three point, power steering, etc. I found a few low time used tractors. I bought a NH TT60A with just over 400 hours on it. The tractor was built in 2006, and is all Fiat. So far- so good.
 
I have a Bobcat loader, so I don't really need a tractor/loader at this time. There may come a time though when I may trade the Bobcat in for a smaller "open station" tractor with a loader, as time goes by....
 
You have that covered, in that case sure, you could save a little and every bit does count, but to not have any kind of loader, while I am sure there are plenty of work arounds, just a must have for most, not worth the value to delete it.
 
I would just get a Farmall M, or JD2510 if that is all you want. The newer tractors with MFWD and loaders are nice, but you did not state that.
 
What is a "utility" tractor?? I farm around 300 acres, and in some folks minds, all I have are "utility" tractors. I make hay, plant corn , grow grain , do every thing you can do on a 50-60 cow dairy farm. I like tractors in the 100hp range. Because they are big and heavy enough to pull a 5 furrow plough,run a round baler, or pull a wagon load of big round bales ,without getting pushed around by the weight of the load. I bought a new Kubota tractor this summer, 135hp 4x4 with loader . And it will do every job I have , while still being the same over all size and weight of my 66hp Ford 5640. But the 5640 cannot do many of the jobs the Kubota can do, just not enough power.All new tractors under 100hp will be built some where other than USA, and any tractor I buy will come from a foreign country, as there are no tractors built in Canada. But if you want to talk old tractors, give me J.I.Case built in the good old USA.
 
I have a 10 year old JD 5420, 2 wheel drive open station, no loader. It has been a very reliable tractor, big enough to work and small enough to be very agile. It is 65 HP but similar models are availble with smaller tires and less HP.
I bought the flat platform open station and love it compared to my other stradle mount older tractors.
 
Yes, this is what I am talking about! Thank you. I have been looking at JD 5055D & 5065E. I am liking the 5065 better.
 
I have an 03 Mahindra E350 DI 35 HP that is One Sweet Tractor! And very heavy Duty.. Everything about it it ..Pulls 16 Disc Plow 5ft bush hog Easily, But, Your Mileage may Vary LOL Larry
 
Probably about 100 hours per year. Not that much, but when I see newer used tractors selling for almost as much as new ones, I need to rationalize my decision to buy a new one.
 
Cowman I have that very same tractor only in the red color. I have 700plus hours on it and not one single problem. When I put duals on it in the spring to pull a 6 row planter it almost looks like a real tractor.
 
I think dealer support is probably more important than brand. For my area it would either be Kubota or JD. Personally I would choose the Kubota. NH and CIH in that size are the same tractor. The dealers for NH in my area is as worthless as t!ts on a boar hog.
 
50-60- HP low hour 2 wheel drive utility tractors with out loaders are dirt cheap in every auction I have been to in the last several years, I also see them advertised cheap.
 

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